FIFA are living in cloud cuckoo land over VAR
VAR exists to let referees get a closer look at in-game incidents.
But it’s going to wreck our game completely if FIFA shut their eyes to what went wrong with it at the Women’s World Cup.
Right now, the approach from the game’s governing body is as blinkered as it is basic – nothing to see here, move along.
I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard FIFA stuck out a press release on Friday, hailing the successful – in their eyes – impact of VAR in France over recent weeks.
The chairman of their referees’ committee, Pierluigi Collina – who was a fantastic referee in his day – was quoted as saying that he was: “Very pleased that VAR worked very well.”
I’m sorry, big man, but that is just plain crazy.
Just look at the fallout from the countless controversies sparked by VAR’S use!
It seemed like barely a match went by without some sort of row.
For FIFA to call that a success is sheer PR spin – and not very effective spin at that.
VAR is creeping into areas where it shouldn’t be and infringing further into the game time-wise
We’ve all got eyes, for goodness’ sake! We all saw what happened!
Saying VAR worked well at the Women’s World Cup is like saying the sky is green!
For years now, I’ve backed moves to help referees get big calls right with technology.
But, for me, there have always been conditions.
First, the video refs should only be able to intervene on clear, black-and-white calls like offside, and obvious penalties.
Second, the time taken to make the decision should be minimised as far as possible.
Now we’re seeing that VAR is creeping into areas where it shouldn’t be, and infringing further into the game time-wise.
That’s all wrong.
When you’ve got penalties being re-taken because the goalkeeper has a moved off their line by a centimetre, you’re heading towards cloud cuckoo land.
The sense of injustice must be huge for goalies being penalised for that. Just ask Scotland stopper Lee Alexander! Had her penalty save in the last minute of Shelley Kerr’s side’s game against Argentina stood, Scotland would have gone through to the knock-out stages.
Instead, because VAR is reaching into areas it shouldn’t be, they crashed out.
That’s a joke.
If FIFA think everything went perfectly, they’re going against public opinion.
That should worry them because the fans will revolt if they feel short-changed by changes in the way the game is refereed.
The FA are staging a talk at my radio station, early next week, to tell all of our presenters about how VAR will work when it is brought into the Premier League this coming season.
I’m going to be there, and I’ll be fascinated to see what they have to say.
FIFA might think they got away with big, controversial VAR calls, like the ones that did Scotland in, at the Women’s World Cup.
Okay, there was a bit of a media storm. But it was a storm in a teacup compared to what could happen if fans in the men’s game take decisions badly.
Just imagine, a last-minute penalty in an Old Firm derby, and the title hinges on what happens.
The goalie saves, but VAR pulls it back. Pictures are debatable, but referee judges the keeper to be marginally off his line.
It is retaken – and scored.
At that point, we’re talking pandemonium, both on and off the park.
That’s not what VAR is supposed to be for, and FIFA are kidding themselves if they think they’ve got it right.